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But fancy parents pawning a chap's only decent coat." He smoothed his well-brushed jacket complacently. "Yes, but don't you remember mother took it out the very next morning before school with the money she earnt at Malka's." "But what was the use of that? I put it on of course when I went to school and told the teacher I was ill the day before, just to show the boys I was telling the truth.
The spirit of her brother Solomon came upon her and she felt that she would. Speculation had checked her sobs; she dried her tears in stony scepticism and, looking up, saw Malka's gipsy-like face bending over her, breathing peppermint. "What weepest thou, Esther?" she said not unkindly. "I did not know thou wast a gusher with the eyes."
The great events of a crowded decade of European history had left Malka's domestic interior untouched. The fall of dynasties, philosophies and religions had not shaken one china dog from its place; she had not turned a hair of her wig; the black silk bodice might have been the same; the gold chain at her bosom was.
"I remember mother gave me a treat instead," said Benjamin with a comic grimace. "She took me round to Zachariah Square and let me play there while she was scrubbing Malka's floor. I think Milly gave me a penny, and I remember Leah let me take a couple of licks from a glass of ice cream she was eating on the Ruins. It was a hot day I shall never forget that ice cream.
There was a moment of painful silence. Malka's eye mechanically sought the clothes-brush. Then Ezekiel sneezed. It was a convulsive "atichoo," and agitated the infant to its most intimate flannel-roll. "For thy Salvation do I hope, O Lord," murmured Malka, piously, adding triumphantly aloud, "There! the kind has sneezed to the truth of it. I knew I was right."
"He said I I at least I think he said I I understood that he introduced me to Miss Solomon, as his intended wife." Solomon was the name of Malka's first husband, and so of Leah. "Quite right," said Hannah simply. "Then what how?" he stammered. "She was his intended wife," explained Hannah as if she were telling the most natural thing in the world. "Before he married me, you know."
Esther turned white, but the dwindling of Malka's semi-divinity had diminished the old woman's power of annoying her. "I want to earn my own living," she said, with a smile that was almost contemptuous. "Do you call that being a Schnorrer?" "Don't argue with me. You're just like your poor mother, peace be upon him!" cried the irate old woman. "You God's fool!
Here cheap china dogs, that had had more than their day squatted amid lustres with crystal drops. Before the fire was a lofty steel guard, which, useful enough in Milly's household, had survived its function in Malka's, where no one was ever likely to tumble into the grate. In a corner of the room a little staircase began to go upstairs. There was oilcloth on the floor.
The fish was deposited at Milly's house, which was brightly illuminated and seemed to poor Esther a magnificent palace of light and luxury. Malka's own house, diagonally across the Square, was dark and gloomy. The two families being at peace, Milly's house was the headquarters of the clan and the clothes-brush. Everybody was home for Yomtov.
Malka's voice became more strident than ever. She had been anxious to make a species of vicarious reparation to her first husband, and the failure of Milly to acquiesce in the arrangement was a source of real vexation. Moses could think of nothing better to say than to inquire how her present husband was. "He overworks himself," Malka replied, shaking her head.
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